The American Politics Thread

Snicolette wrote: So this just happened last night in the quiet mountain towns of Felton and Ben Lomond, just up in the mountains above quiet little Santa Cruz (which is much less quiet and little than when I lived there).  When I first moved there, my friend who still lives there, told me that there were contingents of skinheads, etc. in the mountain area, I can't help but think they are nowadays emboldened by the implied respect for them by 45.  There still is question this am by residents whether everyone is in custody that should be. From the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office: On Saturday June 6th at around 1:30 p.m., we received a call about a suspicious van parked off the road near Jamison Creek, Boulder Creek. The caller saw guns and bomb making materials inside the van. When deputies arrived, the van was seen leaving the area and tried to follow it, finally finding it at a home on Waldeberg, Ben Lomond. As deputies began investigating, they were ambushed with gunfire and multiple improvised explosive devices. Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller was shot and taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Another deputy was either shot or struck by shrapnel and struck by a car as the suspect fled the property. We are hopeful the deputy will recover. Calls of a carjacking nearby soon followed as officers from departments throughout Santa Cruz County began arriving to the area, several of whom were involved in the arrest of the suspect, Steven Carrillo, who was reportedly armed was shot during his arrest. The suspect survived and was treated and released from the hospital. He will be arrested for the murder of Sergeant Gutzwiller and other felonies. Damon was a patrol supervisor and worked for the Sheriff’s Office since 2006. He is 38-years-old and married with children. Damon was a courageous, intelligent, sensitive and a caring man. “Words cannot express the pain we feel for Damon and his family,” Sheriff Jim Hart said, “He was the kind of person we all hope to be. Today, we lost a hero. We are grateful to have known him and we mourn with his family.” The District Attorney’s Office is investigating the case. We will release more information about the incident early next week.

Edited by micky - June 07 2020 at 10:07

So much anger on this thread, like really bad anger!!  I realize prog is dead, but its not that bad, come on man, you still have your precious Beatles to listen to , that'll brighten your day.

Well, I've tried to contribute my own two cents to the thread, but I have to say that any mentions of "elites" as the culprits of everything that's wrong in the world tend to turn me off big time. Contrary to the current trend, I tend to hold "ordinary" people responsible for much that happens to them, rather than believing them poor innocent victims of those in power. I do not for a second believe that a lot of people like you and me are racist because the elites tell them to be. I'll be happy when this collective madness and fascination for conspiracy theories and finding convenient scapegoats for everything will be over - if it ever is. Until then, I'm out of here.

Raff, great insight.

I've been criticizing such scapegoating for countless years, in your way. Just look at Greenpeace. They talk like folks are innocent and naive beings, and company bosses are demonic entities, and everything would be great if they eliminated them.

No sir, and ma'am. They grew out of their public, some others will replace them even if you win your war.

Edited by Shadowyzard - June 07 2020 at 11:57

I, on the other hand, believe that the ordinary people are ignorant and misguided. They don't question the information fed to them and always choose the easiest path. Civilization is only skin deep. With the 'right' incentive they are prepared to commit any atrocity.

^ good one Greg   not sure if that made me laugh more.. or the latest numbers out of Michigan. 63-23 Biden with Independents. That is .. if my math is correct. 40 f**king points in an area Trump won in 2016.  perhaps why I've read GOP strategists are privately already writing off the state.

^ I agree %100. Americans can have a very selfish idea of freedom and often do not consider how they may be infringing on the freedom of someone else.

Raff wrote: Well, I've tried to contribute my own two cents to the thread, but I have to say that any mentions of "elites" as the culprits of everything that's wrong in the world tend to turn me off big time. Contrary to the current trend, I tend to hold "ordinary" people responsible for much that happens to them, rather than believing them poor innocent victims of those in power. I do not for a second believe that a lot of people like you and me are racist because the elites tell them to be. I'll be happy when this collective madness and fascination for conspiracy theories and finding convenient scapegoats for everything will be over - if it ever is. Until then, I'm out of here.

kenethlevine wrote: another thing I have observed from a quarter century as a Canadian living in America (and this in one of the more "liberal" states - Massachusetts) is the concept of "It's my right to do what I want", regardless of its effects on others.  I'm sure this happens in other countries but not sure it's to the same degree.  As a for instance in the current climate, hearing of people driven into a fit of rage because a staff member at a store asks them to please put on a mask.  I have a friend who won't bike with me because she absolutely won't wear a mask and I won't ride with her if she doesn't, case closed.  And she has made it clear that this is my fault not hers.

  I agree that some people misconstrue where their personal rights end and another's begins.  I often note that just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean that you should.  And those rights have responsibilities, like the commonweal of the people.

I've posted my thoughts .. so many times I've lost track but the battle .. the real battle has not even started yet.